[Snoop]

I guess this is a perennial question seeing as seed potatoes are sold by weight, but I was a bit surprised by how few I got for my money:

1.5 kg - 14 Lady Christl, two of which are badly cut up and mouldy

1.5 kg - 12 Charlottes. All in good condition and all about 11 cm long

1.5 kg - 16 Maris Piper, all but one in good condition

The website of the company concerned says each net should contain 20 to 25 tubers. So rather than getting anywhere between 60 to 75 tubers, I've got 42, 40 of which are usable.

I've never bought seed potatoes in the UK. Do you think the above numbers are normal/acceptable?

[arugula]

Well I suppose they are just bigger tubers than they anticipated, as you'll still have got your weights worth.

[mumofstig]

You can always cut the big ones in half if they grow enough chits.
Leave them to dry off and callous over before planting

http://topveg.com/2008/01/how-to-divide-cut-or-split-seed-potatoes/

[Snoop]

I wondered about splitting them, especially the Charlottes, which really are huge. But they seem to want to chit at just one end, not the other as well.

[DD.]

They do only mainly chit at one end - the rose end.

See this thread and scroll down a bit.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=49569.msg586251#msg586251

You could always cut them vertically if you're really desperate to get more, but both halves could end up rotting.

[superplanty]

Bought the following at Wilkos (UK)

2.5kg Pentland Javelin................28 potatoes.

[moonglow]

Sounds about right, i brought 3 lots all 1.5Kg each

Numbers where i think 21, 18 and about 22.

Where they differ is they wasnt 10cm

[emptydraw]

This is exactly why I buy mine form a local garden centre. At least you can see what you are getting and hand select them. You get the correct size and no damage! But you pay that bit more.

Definitely wont be buying spuds or onions mail order again...or indeed soft fruit or plants in general, I've lost all faith!

[RsT]

I got mine from Wilkos, Rocket almost 60 in 2.5kg, howver the 2.5kg bags of Arran Pilot had hardly any in as the tubers were huge!
Brought mine late and local supplier was sold out

[DD.]

But you pay that bit more.

Not at my local you don't!

[Snoop]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Always good to hear other people's experiences. Hope we all get a decent crop this year.

[potatogrower]

where i got mine, nadine, this year they sell a paper bag full of potato seeds for a £2. i put bigger seeds in and saw smaller chitted ones. managed to get 26 small potato seeds in a bag. not sure of the total weight tho. could have got more but i would only end up giving them out to friends and family to grow, which i ended up doing  :happy:

[Runwell-Steve]

I bought mine from a local garden centre this year, it was the first time I had been there.

They had at least 40 different varieties of potatoes in sacks and you could pick your own from the sack.  Once done they weighed them and you payed.

They also had loads of different onions and shallots as well.

I didn't make a note of the pice but I don't recall it being expensive.  I'll certainly be going back there next year.

[gavinjconway]

Hi Snoop - mine all were 1.5 kilo bags and had between 10 and 18 so yours are the same..

[allot2learn]

This year I bought mine from JBA, the third year running. I ordered 4 x 2.5kg and got the following:

Marfona = 33
Kestrel x 32
Ambo x 38
Sante x 34

It's about the average that I get from them.